Military Spouse JD Foundation

History

The Military Spouse JD Network (MSJDN) was formed in Summer 2011 by two military spouses frustrated with the challenges of maintaining a legal career that seemed incompatible with the military lifestyle. They formed MSJDN to advocate for licensing accommodations for military spouses, including bar membership without additional examination, as well as network with other military spouses with JDs. MSJDN has over 1000 members, and is supported by a number of national military and legal organizations. 

Military families are geographically insecure, moving every two to three years based on the needs of the government, often with tours overseas. Attorneys are required to be licensed in each state where they practice, a burdensome requirement when combined with the military lifestyle. Licensing can take up to a year for the application, character review, bar examination, and processing, and can cost thousands of dollars in each jurisdiction. Gaps in employment must be justified on bar applications and can cause delays in admission. All of this is in addition to the search for a new job at the next duty station. MSJDN members report that the biggest challenge to finding and keeping employment is frequent moves and lack of portable employment opportunities.

Current Events & Efforts

- Rule Change Efforts

States that have adopted military spouse attorney rules or policies include Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, and Virginia. MSJDN is currently working on accommodations in fourteen additional states.

- Homefront to Hired

MSJDN seeks to expand employment opportunities for military spouse attorneys while simultaneously offering tailored solutions for legal employers to help them identify qualified, well-suited candidates. MSJDN leverages personal relationships with hiring managers and engages with companies who have indicated interest in recruiting military spouses in order to create meaningful and beneficial partnerships with potential employers. 

- Justice for Military Families

Officially launched in May 2014, Justice for Military Families is a program that connects military families with legal needs to pro bono legal help from MSJDN’s network of military spouse attorneys. It is a pro bono program for military families by military families. The first JMF partner is the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS). In the first year of serving TAPS, JMF has connected over 20 surviving family members with free legal assistance. An online legal clinic available to all servicemembers and their families is in development. 

Military Spouse JD Foundation

in 2014, MSJDN formed the Military Spouse JD Foundation (“MSJDF”), a 501(c)(3) non-profit, to develop military spouse attorneys as professionals, teach them effective advocacy skills, and provide them with opportunities to use those skills to address the legal needs of  the military and veterans communities.

In addition to maintaining the Justice for Military Families program, and developing the online legal clinic, MSJDF runs the Members Benefit Program for MSJDN. MSJDN members currently receive many benefits, including discounts, a mentoring program, webinars, job listings, a newsletter, and much more.  New features and opportunities are constantly being added. With additional funding, benefits could be expanded to include scholarships for bar exam courses, fees, and licensing dues, networking events, MCLEs and more.